"Disturbing" and "gut-wrenching" are frequent adjectives used to describe SAVIOR. I agree without hesitation, but it's important to remember that, particularly in its conclusion, SAVIOR is also both heart-warming and gratifying. I have seen very few films that juxtapose these various qualities so well.This is one of Quaid's finest performances as Joshua "Guy" Rose, a former U.S. Army officer who joins the Bosnian Serb Army for the simple reason that they are fighting against Moslems, a religion that, for reasons the film reveals, he's come to hate. He soon finds himself the unwitting "savior" of Vera, a Serbian woman played with utter conviction by Natasa Ninkovic, and her child conceived through rape by former Bosnian captors. The symbolism of the half-Serb, half-Bosnian child shines through very well. Settings are also worthy of note: The Bosnian sequences were filmed right next door in Montenegro, and the whole sense-of-place adds as much immediate realism to this film as the superb acting.There are some rather heated debates on IMDb's Discussion Board regarding what SAVIOR supposedly says about the war in Bosnia and how it portrays Serbs, Croats, and Moslems. Obviously, way too much has been read into the fact that the director is Serbian-born. Certain events and portrayals will inevitably upset citizens of the former Yugoslav republics who were victimized during the wars in the 1990s. However, the basic focus of this film is as nonpartisan as it can possibly be. If anything, SAVIOR overdoes the point that Bosnian Serbs, Croats, and Moslems all committed acts of both horrific cruelty and extreme compassion. In the words of one character, "I am Croat, my wife, Serb. Before the war, no difference. Now, stupid!"

I totally disliked this movie because of its untrue plot. At the beginning (possible spoiler) Quaid went into the mosque and kills everyone there. This movie was very wrong in many aspects. Firstly the Muslims were more humiliated, killed, raped, slaughtered than Croats and Serbs. Statistics says Bosniaks (who were Muslims) lost more lives than Croats and Serbs. The Bosnian war started because the bosniaks turned Muslims, the Serbs and Croats didn't like that and start killing the Muslims. There are still thousands of unmarked Muslims graves still to be found.The director should have done some research before making a movie.

Arguably flawed, but boy did this knock me on my butt.A film about the horror and brutality of war, but this one got to me in a way very few have. Dennis Quaid is simply great, and while there are a few clichés, and a little forced symbolism, the tension and emotions run very high throughout, and there are a number of scenes I will simply never forget. An American whose wife and child are killed by terrorists joins the foreign legion after going on his own killing spree in revenge, only to re find his humanity in the midst of the Serb Croat war, rescuing a woman and her child. The first and last thirds are flat out brilliant.

It is a pity that such powerful, terrible and madly beautiful film has not received any Oscar. Personally I them would give the whole 4. For the best script to American Robert Orru, for the best female role of the foreground to Natasha Ninkovich (Belief), for the best man's role of second plan Dennis Quaid (Josh) and for the best soundtrack. Considered Earlier, that " Schindler's List " - the heaviest film about war. But after "Savior" I in general any time was in a stupor. I consider from the best as film and add to the collection. Film is ideally sustained. And in the end will not begin to cry at all only heartless. Film not only about war, it also about paternity. Bravo !!! I too advise all more often to look the European cinema! 10 from 10